CHARTER

NCSAF Tellers Committee
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Purpose

The NCSAF Tellers Committee is responsible for counting the ballots for annual elections of NCSAF officers, and for other special elections as may be required, and certifies the results of these elections. This Committee operates to ensure that all elections are secure and accurate.

Organization

“Standing committees, of at least three members of the Society in good standing, of the NCSAF shall include, but not be limited to, the Executive, Nominating, Tellers, and Auditing. The Chair of the NCSAF, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a chair and members of standing committees. The Chair and members of each committee shall serve a one-year term, beginning January 1.” [NCSAF Bylaws, Article 8, Standing Committees]

Responsibilities

The NCSAF Nominating Committee will keep the Tellers Committee informed of its activities regarding the solicitation and selection of nominees for office, the preparation of ballots and direction to NCSAF members on the balloting process, and their progress in the elections process, including the cut-off date for the Tellers Committee to receive ballots. It would be desirable that a member of the Tellers Committee be present at Nomination Committee meetings.

“The election of officers shall be by letter ballot in October.” [NCSAF Bylaws, Article 7, Elections].

Security. The Tellers Committee will provide an address to the NCSAF Nominating Committee for the mailing of the ballots. The Tellers Committee will ensure that a secure place is available to store the ballots until they are counted. The Tellers Committee may receive the ballots by hand delivery as well as by postal delivery.

“This committee [Tellers] shall assemble at the time and place set by the Secretary [of NCSAF] to count ballots and shall certify the results of elections to the Chair and Executive Committee.” [NCSAF Bylaws, Article 8, Section C, Tellers Committee]

Following the cut-off date established for the receipt of ballots, the Tellers Committee will meet to count the ballots.

“The ballots shall be counted by December 1.” [NCSAF Bylaws, Article 7, Elections]

Conducting the Count of Ballots. The count will be made in the presence of at least three Tellers Committee members. First, the ballots will be opened and the validity of each ballot determined. Determining validity will consist of a check that ballots are originals and have not been copied. Ballots will also be checked for legibility. Then, there will be a count of the ballots for each office and issue, if applicable, on the ballot. This count will be verified by one or more recounts until all Tellers Committee members present are in agreement that the count is accurate.

“The ballots shall be counted by a Tellers Committee, who shall promptly certify the results to the [NCSAF] Chair, [NCSAF] Executive Committee, [SAF] Executive Vice President (by December 8), and all candidates for office.” [NCSAF Bylaws, Article 7, Elections]

Reporting the Results. The Tellers Committee will prepare a report, usually in the format of the ballot, that reports the results of the count. This report will be presented to the NCSAF Chair, who will then report the results to the NCSAF Executive Committee, the National Headquarters, and the candidates.

Retention of the Ballots.The Tellers Committee is responsible for storing the ballots in a secure location until the NCSAF Chair and Executive Committee have determined that the election is official. Following this determination, the ballots will be destroyed.

Adopted by the NCSAF Executive Committee on January 11, 2003.